Managing Head Lice

Summer camp, like schools, daycares, play groups, etc are a place where there is a greater chance of finding head lice. Head lice are common in school age children and not a sign of poor hygiene or any other disease.

To help manage head lice Dauphin Bible Camp has guidelines to provide the best care for our campers. So you might be asking, “What does Dauphin Bible Camp do when head lice is found”?

Head lice checks will be performed whenever there has been a case identified within the camp. All head lice checks are done by the health officer and/or delegate(s) deemed appropriate.

In the event of a confirmed head lice case within the camp the following will occur:

• All children in that child‘s cabin, as well of the cabins of any siblings will be checked for head lice.
• Any confirmed cases will be treated or sent home for treatment immediately.
• All children at camp shall be sent home with a letter explaining head lice, the process for head lice checks, and head lice removal.
• Any cabin where there has been confirmed cases of head lice will be vacuumed, and any cloth materials will be washed in hot water.
• In the event that an item cannot be washed it shall be placed in a plastic bag and sealed for a two week period.
• Any child with a confirmed case of head lice will be allowed to return to the camp activities after treatment of the head lice and a clear inspection by the health officer.

10 questions about Head Lice

What are head lice?

• Head lice are small insects that live on people‘s heads. While they may be found anywhere on the head, they are usually found on the scalp, along the neckline and behind the ears. When lice bite the scalp, they cause itching, and sometimes redness.
• Important things to remember about head lice:

1. they do not cause or carry disease;
2. they can be easily treated; and
3. knowledge can help control their spread.

What do lice and their eggs look like?

• Head lice are very small (usually about the size of a sesame seed), but size may vary. They move quickly, so they are difficult to spot. It is easier to look for their eggs (called nits) rather than the insects themselves.
• Live nits can be grayish, cream or tan-coloured. Lice lay their flits on the hair very close to the scalp. They can be found anywhere on the head but most commonly behind the ears and at the back of the neck. Each nit is attached to the hair with a hard, waterproof ―glue‖ so they cannot be washed out or brushed off like dandruff.

How can you tell if a person has head lice?

• Frequent scratching of the head
• Nits found stuck to the hair close to the scalp
• Small insects noticed on the head

What is the treatment for head lice?

Check all household members.

1. Treat all infested household members at the same time.
2. Use two treatments, seven days apart. There are several over-the-counter medicated shampoos or crème rinses that will get rid of the lice and nits such as R&C, Nix, SH-206, and Lindane. (Note: The second treatment of SH-206 should be applied 48 hours after the first treatment.) Before applying the lice shampoo, section the hair like corn rows, pouring a stream of the shampoo down each part. Follow package instructions carefully, using lots of shampoo, to ensure lice and nits are completely gone.
3. If the initial treatment fails, a second treatment with a different product may be tried.

Treatment Procedure

1. Use lice crème rinse or shampoo as directed on the label.
2. Apply to wet or dry hair, following the directions for the product you are using.
3. Work thoroughly into the hair, according to the directions on the label (usually 4-10 minutes).
4. Rinse well with water to remove all crème rinse or shampoo and loosen the nits

To remove Nits

• Option 1

1. Pull off individual flits by grasping flits between the finger tips and sliding off the end of hair strands.
2. Place in bag and dispose.

• OR

1. Comb hair with a fine-toothed (nit) comb, one small section at a time.
2. Position the comb as close as possible to the scalp and pull through to the end of the hair. Wipe nits from the comb frequently using tissues and dispose of tissues in a plastic or paper bag; seal and discard.
3. When hair is dry, check the entire head for remaining flits and remove them. Continue checking (and removing) for the next 1-2 weeks.

Is any other cleaning necessary?

• There is no evidence that a major household clean-up will help get rid of head lice. Head lice and their nits do not survive well off the scalp as they feed off humans and survive only in a certain temperature and humidity range.
• Eggs will not hatch off the head. Lice rarely move from the scalp so it is unlikely they will spread through casual contact with furniture or carpeting.
• The articles most likely to transmit lice are those that come into contact with the head and nape of the neck, such as hats, helmets, furry coat collars, scarves, hair brushes, combs and hair ornaments. Where possible, these items should be washed in hot water and dried in a dryer. Combs and brushes should be soaked in hot, soapy water for 15 minutes. Other items may be sealed in a plastic bag for 10 days, or placed in a freezer for 24 hours.

Who gets head lice?

• Anyone can get head lice. Although parents are often embarrassed to find their children have head lice, it is really a common problem throughout society. It is most common in places where people work or play together for long periods of time, such as classrooms and day care centers.

How do you get head lice?

• Contrary to popular belief, poor hygiene does not cause head lice. Head lice cannot jump or fly so they are most commonly spread through close head-to-head contact with someone who has head lice. Lice are also spread by sharing personal articles that have touched the head, such as hats, helmets, scarves, combs, brushes, barrettes and ribbons. They cannot be spread from animals or pets.
• How can you prevent the spread of head lice?
• Head lice can best be controlled through the co-operation of parents, teachers and public health personnel. Once parents learn how to recognize head lice, regular inspection of their children‘s scalps is the best preventive measure. Teach your children how head lice are spread and how to avoid them.

More Information

• This information is provided by Manitoba Public Health (Rev. 03/02)
• If you have any concerns or questions, or have difficulty getting rid of heal lice, contact your doctor, public health nurse or Health Links, Winnipeg at 788-8200 or toll-free at 1-888-315-9257 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 1-888-315-9257 end_of_the_skype_highlighting or access their Web site.